Ingredients
Vegetables
- 4Persian or Lebanese cucumbers
- 4ripe tomatoes
- 1small red onion
Dressing
- juice of 2 limes, or 3 tbsp verjuice
- 3 tbspolive oil
- 1 tspdried mint
- salt
- black pepper
Optional
- a handful of fresh mint, chopped
- 1 tspsumac
To serve
- alongside kebabs, rice or stews
Directions
- Use small Persian or Lebanese cucumbers rather than large ones. The small varieties have thin skin, dense flesh and few seeds, which is exactly what you want.
- Quarter them, scoop out the wet seed pulp, and dice only the firm flesh. Deseeding the tomatoes is the step that decides whether the salad is crisp or sitting in a puddle, and it is worth the extra minute.
- Dice the onion as finely as everything else. Now soak the diced onion in cold water for 10 minutes and drain it well.
- Combine the cucumber, tomato and onion in a bowl. Verjuice is sour without being sharply citric, and it is worth seeking out if you want the older flavour.
- Whisk the lime or verjuice with the olive oil, dried mint, salt and pepper.
- Crush the dried mint between your fingers as you add it, which releases its aroma. Dress the salad about 20 minutes before serving, and no earlier.
- Toss it gently and let it stand. Taste and adjust the salt and lime just before it goes to the table. Serve it cold, in a shallow dish, with a spoon.
Technique
- Verjuice is sold in Iranian shops and is the more traditional souring agent.
- A little sumac scattered over is common and adds a different sourness.
- It does not keep and is made fresh for each meal.
Substitutions
- Lemon juice in place of lime or verjuice.
- Any small thin-skinned cucumber.
Variations
- With fresh mint as well as dried.
- With sumac scattered over.
- Made with verjuice, which is the older version.
History
Finely diced cucumber, tomato and onion dressed with lime juice, named after the city of Shiraz.
Frequently asked questions
What is Salad Shirazi?
Salad Shirazi is a salad & side from Iran: diced cucumber, tomato and onion in lime-mint dressing. Finely diced cucumber, tomato and onion dressed with lime juice, named after the city of Shiraz.
How long does Salad Shirazi take to make?
Salad Shirazi takes 20 min plus 20 min resting of preparation and no cooking at all. The recipe makes 6 servings. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Salad Shirazi?
Yes, within limits. Lemon juice in place of lime or verjuice. Any small thin-skinned cucumber.
What is the most important thing to get right in Salad Shirazi?
Use small Persian or Lebanese cucumbers rather than large ones. The small varieties have thin skin, dense flesh and few seeds, which is exactly what you want.
